Building Vulnerability Assessment & Mitigation Program (BVAMP)

Preparedness Saves Lives

Building response managers who have

planned and prepared for emergencies can

respond quickly and appropriately during

times of crises, reducing injuries and deaths

in the event of an accidental or intentional

release of a hazardous substance. The figure

shown below shows the benefit of shutting

down an HVAC system to shelter from an

outdoor contaminant plume. In this example,

shutting down the HVAC system before the

plume arrives reduces the peak indoor concentration by more than 70% and the total

indoor exposure during the first two hours by

more than 50%.

Some key preparatory steps to take include:

• Developing shelter-in-place locations

• Establishing comprehensive emergency

response teams

• Modifying HVAC controls to facilitate sheltering and purging response modes

How Do Building Managers

Identify Vulnerability?

Preparation and advanced planning can

reduce the likelihood and severity of chemical, biological, and radiological attack.

However, it can be difficult for building managers to determine key vulnerabilities and

prioritize implementation of mitigation strategies, because most information that treats

these subjects is intended for technical consultants or design professionals. The

Building Vulnerability Assessment and

Mitigation Program (BVAMP) provides facility managers with an easy-to-use software

tool for identifying basic steps to secure

buildings and develop building specific mitigation plans.

BVAMP develops building-specific advice

for:

• Improving emergency preparedness

• Developing building system control protocols for use during emergencies

• Planning for shelter-in-place responses

• Restricting access to building systems

and information

Simple Software Tool

1. Survey building using simple straightforward

questionnaire

2. Complete BVAMP by answering “yes/no”

questions.

• emergency response plans

• buildings and building system access

• HVAC systems and controls

• special risk areas

3. Print out building-specific report detailing

areas of potential vulnerability and ways to

reduce risk. 

The figure shows the easy-to-use screens of BVAMP.

Users work through a series of questions about the

building and response planning
BVAMP is designed for use by building owners,

facility managers, safety managers, and private contractors. Using the program recommendations, users can take basic steps to reduce

building vulnerability from attack by chemical, biological, or radiological agents.

Steps that facility managers can take to address

these issues are:

• Download the BVAMP software, either

directly or through their contractors.

• Use the software to assess building vulnerabilities

• Examine the BVAMP recommendations

for action and implement as indicated,

based on available time and funds.

• Tell other facility managers and law

enforcement agencies about BVAMP’s

availability.

• Submit BVAMP change suggestions to

LBNL staff.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)

has many resources, including BVAMP, available

to address building security issues. These are

available at http://SecureBuildings.lbl.gov

The Energy Commission’s PIER Program final

report describing BVAMP’s development, including sample reports, is available at:

http:/energy.ca.gov/pier/buildings/reports.html

INTERESTED? BVAMP

Building Vulnerability

Assessment & Mitigation

Program (BVAMP)

Helping Facility Managers

Reduce Vulnerability to

Chemical, Biological, and

Radiological Agents

Funded by the

California Energy Commission

Public Interest Energy Research Program

Contact information:

California Energy Commission

www.energy.ca.gov/pier/index.html

Don Aumann

daumann@energy.state.ca.us

Richard Sextro, 

LBNL Project Lead

rgsextro@lbl.gov

Tracy Thatcher,

LBNL Program Coordinator

tlthatcher@lbl.gov

Rev 28 june 04